The "Good Old Boy" of the Cell Block

Time dripped like water seeping from the stone walls of the Heavenly Prison, accumulating drop by drop, silently. Through this day-by-day, "multi-threaded" steady development, Xu Qian's strength not only improved steadily, but his persona in the depths of the Heavenly Prison also quietly changed.

Initially, he was just an inconspicuous new guard in Zone D, timid, cowardly, barely surviving.

Later, he became a guard with "a little skill," able to subdue troublemakers, knowing a few folk remedies, and lucky.

Even later, he was a capable subordinate in Zhou Kang's eyes, "reliable, hardworking, knowledgeable about rules, and discreet," and in Zhang Meng's heart, "mysterious, powerful, and righteous" Brother Qian.

And now, among the prisoners in Block E and even parts of Zone D, Xu Qian had gained a new label—the "nice guy" Guard Xu.

This title wasn't acquired by chance.

First, there was his masterful "cleaning skills." Any area he was responsible for was always impeccably clean, significantly improving the environment around the prisoners' cells. Although the insides remained filthy, at least looking at the gleaming floor by the door could slightly improve one's mood, right?

Second, there was his "medical knowledge" (what the prisoners called folk remedies). Ever since the Xue Muhua incident, someone had spread the word that Guard Xu knew a few country remedies that were sometimes quite effective. Thus, some prisoners with minor ailments would cautiously ask for help when Xu Qian delivered their meals.

"Guard... Guard Xu, I've had diarrhea for the past two days, could you...?"

"Little Brother Xu, my cough just won't go away, do you have any old remedies?"

"Lord Xu, my wound is starting to fester..."

For these harmless requests, Xu Qian, after confirming they wouldn't expose him, would occasionally "offer guidance."

"Diarrhea? Drink more hot water. See those purslane plants by the wall? Pluck a couple of leaves and chew them." (Purslane does have an anti-diarrheal effect, but the ones by the Heavenly Prison walls were mostly useless, mainly for psychological comfort.)

"Cough? Don't sleep facing the draft at night, and try not to eat anything too cold." (Correct, but useless advice.)

"Wound festering? Sprinkle some clean ash on it, don't scratch it." (Basic disinfection and hemostasis, better than doing nothing.)

He never made any promises, and his tone was always uncertain, projecting an attitude of "I just heard about this, you can try it, it might not work."

But by chance, sometimes these "folk remedies" hit the mark, or with the subtle "assistance" of his Longevity True Qi, they actually had some effect. Thus, the saying "Guard Xu's remedies are a bit effective" spread like wildfire.

Coupled with his relatively calm demeanor when delivering food (mainly because he was too lazy to cause trouble), unlike some guards who were abusive or extorted prisoners (he disdained their petty gains), over time, Xu Qian became a rare "not-so-bad" guard in the eyes of some lower-level prisoners, a "nice guy" they could try talking to.

This day, Xu Qian was delivering dinner to Block E as usual.

When he reached cell E-35, the habitual thief inside, who had been imprisoned for theft, leaned against the bars and whispered mysteriously, "Guard Xu, did you hear? There was another commotion in Block C the night before last!"

Xu Qian slowed his steps, his face showing just the right amount of "curiosity": "Oh? What happened again?" (Inner thought: Block C? Could it be that after that Prince escaped, they locked up some other formidable character?)

"I heard they locked up a woman! She was so beautiful! But very strange!" The thief winked conspiratorially, "On her first day inside, she scared a female prisoner in the same cell crazy! No one dares go near that cell now!"

Xu Qian's heart stirred slightly, but his expression remained unchanged: "A woman? How was she strange?"

"I don't know, the rumors are wild. Some say she knows sorcery, some say her eyes can charm people..." The thief spoke animatedly, "Anyway, be careful lately, especially those on night duty..."

Xu Qian nodded and didn't ask further, scooping a spoonful of vegetable mush and pouring it in: "Alright, stop gossiping and eat your food."

"Hey, thank you, Guard Xu!" The thief chuckled and retreated.

Walking to E-12, the man whose legs were broken due to gambling debts, and who could now barely sit up thanks to Xu Qian's "guidance" on a "bone-setting folk remedy" (which was actually just telling him not to move recklessly), managed a strained smile when he saw Xu Qian: "Little Brother Xu, you're here."

"Mm, how are you feeling today?" Xu Qian asked casually.

"Much better, my leg doesn't hurt as much anymore, thanks to you..." the man said gratefully.

Xu Qian waved his hand and continued delivering food.

Similar scenes occurred along the way. Some prisoners would complain to him about the poor food, some would share gossip from the prison, and others would simply greet him.

Xu Qian mostly just listened, occasionally responding with a word or two, his attitude neither enthusiastic nor indifferent, maintaining that "a little sympathetic but unable to help" nice guy image.

However, in his heart, he noted down these fragmented pieces of information one by one. Such as the "strange" new woman in Block C, or which cell was tense and might cause trouble, or the hidden conflicts between certain prisoners